Rooting Resilience: Developing a Geospatial Tree Dataset for Tree Campus Higher Education Designation

Empowering Student Research and Greening the Campus through Geospatial Tree Mapping

MSc. Sean Thatcher Sean.Thatcher@csi.cuny.edu

MSc. Nora Santiago Nora.Santiago@csi.cuny.edu

Dr. Jonathan Peters Jonathan.Peters@csi.cuny.edu

City University of New York College of Staten Island

College of Staten Island and Land Cover

• A 204-acre campus situated in central Staten Island.
• Dominated by three land cover classes:
• Grass/shrub
• Other impervious surfaces
• Parking lots
• Sidewalks
• Tree canopy
• Can be classified as a “park-like” feel, especially amongst wildlife residents and seasonal visitors.

(NYC Open Data, 2018;

Thatcher et al., 2024)

Tree Canopy Change

• Between 2010 and 2017, the tree canopy has increased despite disturbances.
• Hurricane Sandy 2012
• Hurricane Irene 2011
• Tropical Storm Cindy 2017
• Tropical Storm Jose 2017
• Situated mostly around previously existing canopy.
• Does not contribute to shade cooling for academic buildings in areas of expansion in many cases.
• Tree canopy coverage has reduced since 2017
• Tropical Storm Henri 2021
• On campus development
• By studying our campus tree canopy, we can enhance energy efficiency, increase carbon sequestration, and strengthen sustainability efforts, all while actively involving students through local fieldwork and professional development opportunities right on campus.

(NYC Open Data, 2018,

Thatcher et al., 2024)

Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree Campus Higher Education (TCHE)

• Recognizes colleges for effective tree management, student engagement, and sustainability practices.
• Trees reduce heat islands, sequester carbon, save on energy costs, support biodiversity, and enhance campus sustainability and community well-being.
• Gathering tree data and additional environmental information on campus will inform tree planting and maintenance while mentoring students in environmental fieldwork and developing valuable employment skills.

(Arbor Day Foundation, 2025)

UN Sustainability Goals Alignment with TCHE & Student Workforce Development Skills

1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well-being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships for the Goals

(Turner-Skoff & Cavender, 2019; Stewart, 2021;

Shafer & Egger, 2023; United Nations, 2025)

Data Collection on Campus

• Students are recruited from a variety of academic programs:
• Earth and Environmental Sci. 2x
• Engineering 2x
• Biology 1x
• Education 2x
• SYEP 10X
• Data collection:
• Presentations, field guides, peer/near-peer mentors
• Trimble Geo 7X (≈2.5 ft)
• Technological identification
• Preliminary data processing and visualization:
• Pre-processing spatial correction
• Geospatial analysis
• Biodiversity analysis
• Suitability analysis

Preliminary Results: �Where Are Our Trees?

• 652 collected so far and GROWING
• 217 Native
• 257 Non-native
• 75 Invasive
• 103 unidentified
• Sampling has thus far focused on the North campus academic building.
• 49.9 acres or 25% of campus

Preliminary Results: Which �Are the Most Common Trees?

• Native
• Supports rich biodiversity
• Insects, birds, and mammals
• Fast/moderate growth traps CO₂ and stabilizes soil
• Many unidentified trees are native
• Pin oaks and maples undercounted
• Non-native
• Traditional urban trees, tolerant to salt/pollution along walkways
• Disease resistant – Dutch Elm Disease
• Invasive
• Bradford Pear used along walkways, but should be replaced when deceased

Preliminary Results: What About �Tree Biodiversity?

• All Trees
• Strong species diversity.
• Fairly high evenness suggests a well-balanced distribution of individuals among species.
• Native Trees
• High diversity and highest evenness suggest a healthy, stable, and balanced native tree population.
• Non-native Trees
• Moderate diversity and even species distribution with some variability may be legacy plantings or ornamental use.
• Invasive Trees
• Lowest diversity dominated by one species, potential imbalance.

Where to Plant Future Trees?�Optimized Hot Spot Results

(Thatcher, 2024)

Potentially Suitable Tree Replanting Locations

• Created based on:
• Distance to pre-existing trees
• Land cover
• Slope
• Land surface temperature
• Future work will incorporate:
• Species
• Drainage
• Soil type
• Carbon sequestration
• More!

Athletics Fields

Campus

Green

1C

1N

1P

2N

2A

3N

4N

5N

TCHE Student Workforce Development Skills Through Data Capstone Projects

• Designing a Long-Term Tree Care and Monitoring Plan for Tree Campus Higher Education
• Biodiversity and Evenness Assessment of Campus Trees Using Ecological Indices
• Carbon Sequestration and Stormwater Runoff Reduction Modeling Using Campus Tree Data
• Urban Forestry Health Assessment Using Field Data, UAV Imagery, and NDVI

(Shafer & Egger, 2023)

Future Work

• Data collection must continue better to develop an understanding of our campus tree canopy.
• Undergraduate/graduate student research opportunities
• Integration into courses using the campus as a unique field site
• Collaborative citizen science and research opportunities
• Development of a Tree Advisory Board and Management Plan
• Comprised of Faculty, Staff, Students, and Community members
• Make suggestions of tree care, plantings, events, etc.
• Identify external collaborators to continue work.
• Gain Tree Campus Higher Education Designation
• Want to get involved or follow progress? Scan the QR code!

A Special Thank You to Our Students

��Thank You!�Rooting Resilience: Developing a Geospatial Tree Dataset for Tree Campus Higher Education Designation

Empowering Student Research and Greening Campus through Geospatial Tree Mapping

MSc. Sean Thatcher Sean.Thatcher@csi.cuny.edu

MSc. Nora Santiago Nora.Santiago@csi.cuny.edu

Dr. Jonathan Peters Jonathan.Peters@csi.cuny.edu

City University of New York College of Staten Island